When the day begins with a solemn mass observing Ash Wednesday with the words, ‘Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return’, romance cannot be on the mind. For the first time in 73 years, there are two events happening on the same day, today -- Ash Wednesday, that marks the beginning of Lent, and Valentine’s Day, considered the most romantic day of the year.
While Valentine’s Day is usually
celebrated with wine and a romantic dinner, the holy obligations of Ash
Wednesday include receiving ashes, abstaining from meat and fasting. Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday are two days which require fasting and abstinence.
Most couples in Goa, understand the importance of Ash Wednesday which takes
precedence over Valentine’s Day .
A bank manager and a passionate deejay in
his off time, Benson Coutinho from Porvorim has already planned his day for
today. “God is very sacred to me and I am going to observe Ash Wednesday religious
without wine and meat. We plan to bring in Valentine’s Day with a quiet dinner
at midnight and then attend the Ash Wednesday mass in the morning. My parents
are very open-minded and they would not have any problem with me celebrating
Valentine’s Day. However, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and I give more
importance to my religion. Love can be celebrated for the rest of the 364 days
of the year,” says Benson.
Lily De Costa from Panjim will be surprising her boyfriend today
by cooking a sumptuous meal. “I have already decided on the dishes I will
prepare for a nice romantic vegan dinner at home which will be definitely
worthwhile. Since the previous day is the last day of Carnival, we will be out
for a party. On Ash Wednesday, I will be going for Mass in the evening and
spend the day at home, keeping everyone in the family happy,” says Lily, a
banker.
For many Ash Wednesday is of more importance compared to
celebrating a single day of love.
Clinton Mascarenhas, a drummer with the Goan band True Blue is of
the same opinion. “I have cancelled the celebration plans of Valentine’s Day
this year as I will be fasting and I can’t eat meat on Ash Wednesday. I give
first preference for religion. Usually for Valentine’s Day, I plan a dinner
date with my girlfriend, but this year we will celebrate it together either at
her or my home. We plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 15, 2018,”
says Clinton.
“If you are in love, you will be celebrating Valentine’s Day
throughout the year,” says Marsha Kim D’Souza, co-founder of MAC Events. “Ash
Wednesday is a very solemn day and it should be observed religiously. I will be
going for mass in the morning and abstaining from meats. It is the day marking
the start of Lent and Valentine’s Day can be celebrated any other day. If the
days didn’t coincide, I would have planned a nice dinner or would hang out with
my friends,” says Marsha.
The ripples of these
cancellations are showing across the usual Valentine’s Day dinner haunts. There
is an increase drop in the number of reservations and people will be observing
the day at home instead of a candle light dinner. Donovan Vaz, proprietor of
Firefly in Benaulim says, “We usually have a complimentary glass of wine for
the ladies and something different for the couples celebrating
Valentine’s Day. However, this year, we have so far not received any
reservations which would usually get full by this time. We also won’t be doing
anything special on Ash Wednesday, the pace will pick up on February 15, 2018
for the season.”
Ash
Wednesday will also coincide with Valentine’s Day in 1923 and 1934 and will
coincide again in 2024 and 2029. Christians will face a similar clash of days
with Easter and April Fool’s Day overlapping on April 1, 2018.